Privacy Practices

Our Commitment

Ensuring the privacy and security of student and staff data is a top priority for our school district. We understand that protecting sensitive information is essential to building trust with our families. To prevent serious consequences like identity theft and fraud, we adhere to stringent data protection measures. Our commitment includes the following five best practices recommended by the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) for data privacy and security:

Leadership: We have a dedicated team responsible for overseeing data privacy and security, ensuring that best practices are consistently applied.
Business Practices: We carefully vet third-party vendors and partners to ensure they comply with our privacy standards and regulations.
Data Security: We implement advanced security measures, such as encryption and secure access protocols, to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access.
Professional Development: We provide ongoing training for our staff to stay informed about the latest data privacy and security practices.
Community Engagement: We communicate transparently with families about how we manage data and uphold privacy standards.

By following these practices, we comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and ensure that your child's information remains safe and secure.

BPS Commitments

How does Education Data Support Student Success and Improvement of Bismarck Public Schools

Teachers need data to understand when students are thriving and when they need more support in learning specific concepts.

Parents and guardians need access to their children’s educational data to help them succeed.

Students need feedback on their progress so they can make good decisions and prepare for success.

School officials need to understand school/district performance for continuous improvement and resource allocation.

Responsible Data Collection and Use

Bismarck Public Schools, and the service providers we work with, must adhere to certain federal and state privacy laws. The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is one of the primary laws protecting student data. FERPA guides Bismarck Public Schools in using data to benefit student learning and stipulates that our associated service providers cannot use educational records in any way that is not authorized by the school district. They cannot sell or allow others to access it except as BPS permits in accordance with federal and state education privacy laws.

What Data do We Collect?

Demographic Information: we collect data such as names, addresses, phone numbers, gender, age, etc. to ensure school functionality, student safety and accurate reporting.

Student Participation Information: we collect data such as attendance, grades, and participation in school-sponsored extra-curricular activities to enable students to succeed.

Assessment Information: we collect results from local, state, and national assessments to provide teachers, administrators, parents, and students with important information about student, program, and school performance and to improve learning.

Survey Information: we collect surveys and other feedback to improve teaching and learning and address other issues important to students and their families.